Curtain rod



June 13, 1933. w KRESS 1,914,027

CURTAIN ROD Filed April 25, 1932 WITNESSES INVENTOR Patented June 13, 1933 FFICE WILHELMINE KRESS, on PITTSBURG PENNSYLVAINIA v ounirnm ROD Application fi1er1' April 25,

The invention relates to metal curtain rods,

and has among its objects the providing of a fixture which is inexpensive" and unitary, light and strong, decorative and durable, can be used with very wide, as well as narrow, windows, and is adapted to support a curtain with its bottom parallel to the floor no matter how unevenly the curtain may have been made. 1

The invention-is illustrated in the accompanying'drawingof which Fig. '1 is a perspective view of one embodiment; Fig.2 a view taken on the line IIII of Fig. 1;Fig. 3 a perspective viewof a modified form of rod; and Fig. 4 a'view taken on' the line IVIV of Fig. 3. v

Referring-to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the'drawing, the main body portion of the curtain rod is formed from an elongate substantiallly semicylindrical channel member 23 of light but strong metal, suoh as aluminum alloy, and of the customary length of rods used with standard: window frames. To each end and the middle of the channel members outer face and substantially midway between its horizontal edges, a metal supporting strap 27- is attached at longitudinally spaced intervals in any suitable manner, such as by rivets. Sufficient slack is left in the straps between the points of attachment to form loops 26 adapted to receive spurs a of Window brackets 25 secured near the top of a window frame 24;. The middle strap need have only one bracket loop, and may be omitted on short rods. The preferred type of bracket is formed with a concave seat 25?) on which the channel member may rest,

as shown in Fig. 2, thereby taking the greater p nrt of its weight off the supporting straps 2 A row of curtain-supporting hooks 29 is secured in the channel member, preferably by screwing their threaded shanks into a reinforcing strip 28 of wood or metal extending the full length of the channel to which it is attached by any suitable means. The strip 28 serves the double purpose of reinforcing the rod so that it can safely support heavy curtains and drapes, and of providing a strong support for the curtain books 29.

1932. Serial n 607,3l9.

The points of the hooks are sharp to enable them to more easily pierce the fabric of a curtain 12, which is hung therefrom, without breaking its threads. A suflicient number of hooks is provided to permit their being spaced closely enough together to prevent any noticeable sagging-of the curtain between them.

-Each 'endof the channel member is closed by a metal end piece 30 preferably having a peripheral flange 31 which overlies and is secured F to the channel in any convenient mann'er. -A pair of elongate closure members"32- an d 33 are hinged at 34 to the outer edges of the end pieces, and are provided with portions '35 extending vertically outward from the horizontal edges of the channel member. Preferably the outer edges of end pieces 30 are neither straight nor semi-circular, but are formed in a flattened curve which makes it feasible to form the central portion of the closure members with a corresponding curve, thereby improving their appearance.

The closure members are locked shut by any suitable means, such as by a hook 36 having an upwardly extending portion pivoted to upper vertical portion 35 of closure member 32, and engaging a pin 37 projecting upwardly from the channel member. The free ends of the closure members are bevelled with the end of member 32 overlying member 33, thereby retaining it in closed position.

A plate 38, of the width of the closure members and extending from their outer ends back to the window frame 24, is attached to the outer face of each end piece 30. The curtain rod is less cumbersome to handle when not in place if plates 38 are not attached to it, and therefore, they are rendered detachable, preferably by cutting two parallel slits in the central portion of each end piece and pressing the metal between them outwardly to form a loop 39 into which a tongue 40, cut out of plate 38, is slipped.

The outer faces of the closure members 32 and 33 and the plates 38 are embossed to represent rufiies similar to the gathered or ruflied band bordering the top of a curtain. Plates 38 also tend to hide window brackets 25.

In hanging a curtain from this rod which has been attached to window brackets in a desired position, the tube is first opened throughout its entire length by releasing hook from pin 37 and swinging the closure members outward on their hinges 34. The top of the curtain 12 is then carefully forced over the supporting hooks 29 disposed in the channel member 23, whereby the curtain is hung before the window. If it does not hang evenly at first, the difliculty can quickly and easily be overcome by raising or lowering the por tion above the uneven part until the curtain hangs evenly, and then hooking it in that position. After the curtain has been hung satisfactorily, the closure members are swung shutand locked in place by the latch.

A modification is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. Instead of being cylindrical, this rod is roughly rectangular in cross section. An elongate metal channel member is formed with a vertical base and horizontal side-flanges 46v and 47, the top flange 46 extending outward farther than the bottom flange, and preferably having its edge turned 1 down and under, as at 48. This channel member is supported in the same general way as the semi-cylindrical channel member of Fig. 2, that is, by window brackets engaging looped straps, but, in the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it-is preferable to attach two parallel supporting straps 49 to each end of base 45, one at the top and one at the bottom. bracket is then used having two spurs 50, one for engaging each of the straps.

A row of curtain supporting hooks 51 is secured to base 45 and projects horizontally into the channel. These hooks are arranged in the same manner and have the same purpose as hooks 29 of Fig. 2.

An end piece 52 conforming to the end of the channel, but extending back against the window frame to hide the window bracket and supporting straps, and surrounded by a peripheral flange 53 overlying side flanges 46 and 47, is secured to each end of the channel. A pair of closure members 54 and 55 are hinged at their outer ends to end piece flanges 53 opposite to base 45. Preferably, these closure members are not fiat, but are turned 1 inward along their bottoms to meet the edge of lower flange 47, and they may be embossed, like closure members 15 and 16, to improve their appearance. Their lower edges and the outer edge of flange 47 are rounded to preffvent injury to a curtain clamped between them.

The closure members are locked shut by any suitable means, such as by a clamping latch 56 hinged at its upper end to channel flange 46 and formed to clamp around the inturned edge thereof with a wide depending extension engaging the free ends of both of the closure members.

One of the advantages of the curtain rods described herein is that, the curtain being A window hung from the inside of the rod, the rod may be supported at any point along its length without the. supporting brackets interfering with the curtain.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A hollow metal curtain rod comprising an elongate channel member, means associated therewith adapted to be engaged by suitable window brackets for supporting the channel on window frames, a plurality of curtain-supporting hooks. disposed in the channel member, an end piece secured to each end of the channel member, a pair of elongate closure members hinged. at their outer ends to the end pieces and extending vertically outward from the .horizontaledges of the channel member, means for. locking them against the channel member to form a tube, and a plate secured to the outer face of each end piece and extending from a closure member to the window frame and adapted to be decoratively embossed.

2. A hollow metal curtain rod comprising an elongate channel member, means associated therewith adapted to be engaged by suitable window brackets for supportin the channel on window framesv of different widths, a reinforcing member mounted in said channel longitudinally thereof, a plurality of curtain-supporting hooks mounted in said reinforcing member, an end piece secured to each end of the channel member, a pair of elongate closure members hinged at their outer ends to the end pieces and extending vertically outward from the horizontal edges of the channel member, means for looking them against the channel member to form a tube, and a plate secured to the outer face of each end piece extending from a closure member to the window frame and adapted to be decoratively embossed.

3. A hollow metal curtain rod comprising a channel member, means associated therewith adapted to be engaged by suitable window brackets for supporting the channel on window frames of different widths, a rein- 1 forcing member disposed in said channel longitudinally thereof and connected thereto, a plurality of curtain-supporting hooks mounted in said reinforcing member, an end piece connected to each end of the channel member and provided with an outwardlystruck horizontal loop portion, a pair of elongate closure members hinged at their outer ends to the end pieces and extending vertically outward from the. horizontal edges of the channel member, said closure members being embossed to represent curtain ruflles, means for locking them against the channel member to form a tube, and an embossed plate having an integral tongue engaging said loop portion of each end piece to hold the plate in position against the end piece, said plate extending from a closure member to the Window frame.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name. WILHELMINE KRESS. 

